Rafting
Trip Start
Dec 22, 2007
1
25
48
Trip End
May 01, 2008
San Rafael, Argentina
Monday, February 11, 2008
Mon 11 Feb
Our first trip on a double decker bus to San Rafael with posh seats on the lower level (cama) and normal seats on the top level (semi-cama). It was a lovely bus with air conditioning (which was blimmin cold!) and an attendant who served us snacks and lunch (ham & cheese sarnie and biscuit) and kept sweeping the floor when we got back on the bus. He also organised a game of bingo and was in charge of the DVD player. We saw the Illusionist with spanish sub titles and some weird 90s spanish rock group who liked to have skimply clad ladies in the videos (sadly Paul slept through this...).
The trip itself was pretty tedious - more pampa and the scenery never changed - just flat pampa.
Tues 12 Feb
We went on an excellent trip to Caņon Atuel with Risco Viajes. We stopped at Lake Nihuil first for a 20min break and then drove through the Caņon which had amazing rock formations and the rocks were volcanic, metamorphic and sedementary. We did manage to see a chinchilla sitting on some rocks near our car.
At Valle Grande we had the option to raft along Rio Atuel which is a grade 2 river. We had been told it was prefect for beginners (as we have both never rafted before) so went had a go and really enjoyed it. It was slightly
entertaining as the instructions were in spanish. We were, however, given our safety instructions in english and were explained what the instructions would be.
Paul was at the front of the boat and I was at the back. I was, at first, completely gutted I was not in the middle as you didnīt have to paddle. This was until the guide kept hooking his paddle on the life jackets of the girls in the middle and pulling them backwards! We had a lot of water fights with two other boats when we were through the rapids and at one point algae was being thrown between the boats. The river itself was lovely and the scenery was stunning.
We went to a bodega on the way back and were shown round the winery. They also showed us there plum harvest and the process they go through to become prunes. It was really interesting and they tasted divine.
